Episode 34– “The First Cry”
981 Words
(Neha’s POV)
After finishing my evening shift at the bakery, I went straight home, my legs tired but heart full. The moment I opened the door, I heard laughter echoing from the living room.
Rohit was there — sitting with Disha, chatting and laughing like old friends. Disha looked radiant, despite being in her third trimester. Her eyes sparkled with a joy I hadn’t seen in days.
The baby seemed to like Rohit a lot. Every time he spoke, Disha would say the baby kicked.
“Rohit, just one more fairytale, please,” Disha pleaded, resting her hands on her belly.
Rohit glanced at me, suddenly shy. His cheeks turned red. “Neha is here... I mean, maybe next time?”
“Oh come on,” I teased. “Let’s hear what magical world you’re going to take us to today.”
With a sigh and a nervous chuckle, Rohit gave in.
“Alright, alright... Once upon a time, in a village full of talking vegetables, there lived a tiny carrot who dreamed of becoming a racecar driver. His name was Carl the Carrot. All the other vegetables laughed at him because, well… he had tiny legs and no wheels.
“But Carl trained day and night. He rolled down kitchen shelves, raced the blender, and finally — one day, he strapped himself to a toy car and zoomed across the dining table… only to land inside a salad bowl.”
We all burst out laughing.
Even Disha was laughing so loud she had to hold her belly. “Your baby loves Carl the Carrot,” I said, feeling her stomach jump with soft kicks. It was a beautiful moment — so simple, so pure. I liked this side of Rohit. Caring. Silly. Kind. The kind who brings light into tired hearts.
But joy has a strange way of being short-lived.
Disha suddenly stood up, saying she needed to use the washroom. We nodded and went back to talking — until a sharp, loud cry echoed from her side.
“Neha!”
I rushed over — my heart nearly stopped.
Disha was on the floor, gripping her stomach, tears streaming down her face.
Before I could even react, Rohit ran forward and held her. “We need to get to the hospital. Now!”
---
The car ride was terrifying.
Disha clutched my hand, her nails digging into my skin, but I didn’t flinch. Her pain was bigger than mine. She was crying in agony, whispering again and again — “Please save my baby, Neha… please…”
We reached the hospital, and the nurses rushed her inside. “Where is the husband?” a nurse asked quickly.
“He’s… not with us,” I replied, panic in my voice.
“I’ll go with her,” I said and ran alongside the stretcher.
The doctor needed blood — AB+. Rohit stepped forward instantly. “I’m AB+. Take mine. Now.”
Minutes felt like hours.
And then, after what felt like a lifetime of chaos and prayers — the doctor came out.
“She’s delivered a baby girl. She’s premature and underweight. We’ve moved her to NICU for observation. The mother is unconscious but stable.”
A baby girl.
Tears welled up in my eyes. A little life had entered the world — fragile, tiny, and already fighting.
Rohit and I sat outside, waiting in silence. I couldn’t stop staring at the doors. I kept replaying everything over and over. “Thank you,” I finally said to him. “You saved them both today.”
He smiled weakly. “She’s strong. So is the baby. They'll be fine.”
Just then, his phone rang. A short conversation later, he turned to me. “Neha, I have to go… emergency. Please keep me updated.”
I nodded. “I will.”
---
Two hours later, Disha slowly opened her eyes. She looked around, confused at first — and then panic returned.
“The baby… where’s my baby?”
“You had a girl,” I whispered. “A beautiful, tiny baby girl. The doctors have her under observation, but she’s strong.”
She cried. But this time, it was happy tears. “I want to see her.”
I held her hand. “You will. Just rest for now.”
But she kept insisting, so a nurse finally brought a wheelchair. Disha was wheeled to the NICU window. We stood there, watching the tiny baby through the glass — surrounded by machines and wires, yet somehow peaceful.
“She’s beautiful,” Disha whispered.
“She looks like you,” I said, hugging her from the side.
She wiped her tears. “Where’s Rohit?”
“He had some emergency work. But he was here through everything. He gave his blood. Carried you. Stayed until he knew you and the baby were safe.”
Disha nodded, her heart full. “Please thank him… from me.”
---
After getting her back to bed, I stayed by her side until she fell asleep again. Then, quietly, I stepped out into the hallway and called Veer.
“Hello?” His voice was calm.
“I… I won’t be able to come for a few days.”
“What happened?” he asked, instantly alert. “Neha, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Disha… she’s not well. I need to take care of her.”
There was silence on the other end for a few seconds. Then, he replied, “Alright. Take the time you need.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
I hung up.
And sat there in the corridor, between the world we had left behind… and the world we had just entered.
A world where a tiny baby girl had cried her first cry.
And I promised myself I’d do everything I could to make sure she’d never cry alone again.
- Writer
